HISTORY AND SURVEYING

History has placed an importance on boundaries, hence the involvement of the Surveyor. Whether it be Biblical, Egyptian rope-stretchers, early colonial (U.S.) parcels of land or the marvel of the foresight of the Public Land Survey System.

On our site, we offer you some details of Ancient Land Surveying, Biblical Quotes about Land and Boundaries, some short examples of Land Surveying in the U.S. (highlighting the Public Land Survey), and assorted links to help you on your way of appreciating the rich History of Land Surveying.

Land Surveyors will commonly admit to being History "buffs", due to the nature of their work, which often is termed: "following in the steps of the original Surveyor". The words "retracement", re-survey and restoration of corners all point to the nature of the "detective work" of the Land Surveyor, which is always an important factor of the investigation of boundary issues.
Photo above: Tintype of a surveyor and chainman with a vernier compass made by Levi Colton, taken around 1870.

DEFINITION OF SURVEYING

Surveying has been traditionally defined as the science and art of determining the relative positions of points above, on, or beneath the surface of the earth, or establishing such points.
Photo above: Is a carving.

THE EARLY DAYS OF SURVEYING

  • 1400 B.C.
  • 120 B.C.
  • 1800 A.D. Beginning of the industrial revolution.
    All female survey crew.

    Minidoka Project, Idaho 1918.
    Photo above: from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

    SURVEYING TODAY

    Today surveying affects most everything in our daily lives. A few of the areas where surveying is being used are:
  • To map the earth above and below the sea.
  • Prepare navigational maps (land, air, sea).
  • Establish boundaries of public and private lands.
  • Develop data bases for natural resource management.
  • Development of engineering data for:

    SURVEYING IN THE FUTURE

    Surveying is in the early stages of a revolution in the way data is collected, stored, retrieved and shared.
  • Computers are being used widely at all levels.
  • Optical systems.
  • Satellites are being used to record all type of physical data.

    • SURVEYING IMMORTALIZED ON PAPER

    Surveying and Surveyors have been immortalized in various ways. There have been many postal stamps made depicting certain surveying events, cartoons poking fun at surveying as well as old drawings of surveyors.
  • Postal Stamps
  • Cartoons

  • Advertisements

     

    This website was designed by Chip Evans. If you have any questions or concerns about the contents of this website, please contact Chip Evans. Copyright © Lands End Surveying, Inc. & Larry Stegall. All Rights Reserved.